The Airbus A400M military transport plane has carried out its maiden flight today in Seville (Spain), with almost two years of delay to the schedule.

The four-engined plane took off at 10:15am from the San Pablo aerodrome, where the Spanish plant Airbus EADS Company is based, in front of an audience of 2,500 people invited from all over the world, reports the company. These included King Juan Carlos and authorities from the seven partner countries of the project: Germany, Spain, France, UK, Turkey, Belgium and Luxembourg, who will analyse the consequences of the delays to the development of the A400M.

The airplane will allow helicopters and combat aircraft to refuel in flight and to quickly transport large cargos over long distances. It has a cargo capacity of 37 tonnes, is 45.1 metres long and 14.7 metres high. Its range can reach 6,389km with a cargo weighing 20 tonnes.

184 A400M airbuses have been ordered so far (11.12.2009) from Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the UK.